Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Spider-Man #9The newest issue of Marvel Comics Ultimate Spider-Man has made a subtle jab at the MCU and its penchant for overdesigning its costumes. A trend prominently seen in the MCU (but isn’t necessarily exclusive to it), new live-action superhero costumes can often feel far too busy and over-complicated in their design. To that end, a new costume revealed in Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe feels like it’s very much giving the MCU the side-eye.
In Ultimate Spider-Man #9 by Jonathan Hickmam and Marco Chechetto, Peter Parker and Harry Osborn are contending with the recent reveal that both their suits can be taken over by Tony Stark’s Iron Man. Thanks to Oscorp’s Otto Octavius, all Harry’s Green Goblin suit needs is a simple update to keep Stark out. However, Spider-Man’s advanced picotech suit is tougher to solve, and such motivated Otto to create an entirely brand-new suit for Spider-Man:
Clearly, Otto’s creation is the Ultimate universe’s version of the Iron Spider suit, and the new armor comes with all the bells and whistles one would expect. It also features new design elements compared to the original 616 version, complete with extra armor plating and lots of black line piping that’s often become the norm with live-action MCU suits.
Why Ultimate Spider-Man Turns Down The New Iron Spider-Suit
“A Tad Overdesigned”
This new armor created by Octavius prompts a surprising response from Peter Parker, who ultimately turns down the suit in favor of a more traditional and simpler spandex suit (with some Kevlar mixed in). Confirming that the suit is too much, even Otto concedes that the armor may be too overdesigned. It’s not hard to see where Spider-Man is coming from, as well as the likely intentional dig at the MCU.
In the MCU’s 616, the Iron Spider suit worn by Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is similarly overdesigned in its visual style. This is especially true when compared to the original and far simpler suit Tony Stark made for Peter Parker in the comics during the first Civil War event. However, the Iron Spider suit is just one of many MCU suits that have fallen prey to this common trend.
Overdesigned MCU Costumes Are A Frequent Problem
Sometimes…Less Is More
Beyond the Iron Spider suit, some of the worst examples of overdesigned MCU costumes are found when heroes get new suits for their sequels, resulting in already overdesigned styles getting even more lines, colors, and textures, essentially doubling down on what was already unnecessary (see Thor’s blue-and-yellow armor in Love and Thunder). Likewise, sometimes a suit that was perfect like Kamala Kahn’s in Ms. Marvel gets lost in the dust and is replaced by an “upgrade” once their next appearance comes along (The Marvels). At any rate, it is humorous to see this issue get addressed on the page with Ultimate Spider-Man’s rejection of his new armor.
Ultimate Spider-Man #9 is on sale now from Marvel Comics
Ultimate Spider-Man (2024)
THE NEW ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN FOR A NEW ULTIMATE UNIVERSE! After the events of ULTIMATE INVASION, the world needs a hero…who will rise up to take on that responsibility? Prepare to be entangled in a web of mystery and excitement as the all-new ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN comic redefines the wall-crawler for the 21st Century!
- Writer
- Jonathan Hickman
- Penciler
- Marco Checchetto
- Colorist
- Matthew Wilson
- Letterer
- Cory Petit
- Publisher(s)
- Marvel Comics
